You may remember hearing about Private First Class Joshua Sparling, the young Soldier who received a particularly nasty card while recovering from his wounds at Walter Reed. Now go read the letter his father has written and learn about one of YOUR Soldiers. That’s an order people, go NOW!
“Tom” rejoins the unit on November 18, 2005. The 82nd only has two more missions and they can return home. On November 20, 2005 at 1100 hours, they were on foot patrol in the outskirts of Ramadi. They spot what they thought were terrorists and began pursuit on foot. Then the terrorist turned around and set off an IED, or improvised explosive device. Joshua saw the red detonator and yelled before it went off blowing Josh 20 yards away and injuring “Tom”, who had just rejoined the unit two days before.
I received the call by satellite phone from Joshua’s squad leader so Joshua could tell me goodbye. Joshua said, “Dad, I’m sorry, but I’ve been hit bad and they don’t think I’m gonna make it.” Joshua’s buddy tied on a tourniquet above his knee to stop the bleeding. Skin and the knee braces, that all paratroopers wear, were holding on his leg. The chopper was there within two minutes carrying doctors and medics. They started giving him blood transfusions and got the bleeding stopped on the way back to Baghdad.
Where do we continue to find men and women like Josh? Thank God that we do. Sgt Hook out.
Hotel Tango Black5.
Posted by Hook @ 1455 zulu | | Permalink
This post is filed under: Heroes & The Soldier
